Bonds told the panel that his client was wrongfully convicted based on withheld evidence and court error.

Bonds also told the panel that the prosecution didn't prove its case and that the case was not thoroughly investigated.

The killings occurred at the Heidt family home about 3 a.m. Aug. 25, 2008, on Springfield-Egypt Road.

Both Philip Heidt and Carey Heidt were found shot to death in their beds. Linda Heidt was in her bedroom when she was shot as she exited the master bathroom. She was found bleeding in the kitchen by first responders after she made a desperate call to 911 for help.

Bonds also told justices that prosecutors withheld evidence of a shotgun that belonged to Carey Heidt until after the trial. The gun was taken for repair by Carey Heidt's widow, Robin Heidt Rast, during Craig Heidt's murder trial.

Rast married Bradley Cave on Nov. 12, 2001 and was granted a divorce on Sept.6. Her maiden name of Rast was restored.

"Was this one of the five firearms that had previously been turned over to the sheriff's office and returned?" Justice David E. Nahmias asked.

"That's their allegation," Bonds said of the prosecutors.

Prosecutor Michael Muldrew has said the shotgun had no evidentiary value and Bonds knew of it at the same time as the prosecutor.

Judge F. Gates Peed denied a motion for a new trial in March, stating that nothing offered by the defense shows the state "willfully or inadvertently" failed to disclose the existence of the shotgun.

Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie testified at the new trial hearing that he and Muldrew had a conversation with Bonds about the shotgun during the trial.

The conversation is not on the court record.

Peed said despite there being no documentation of the conversation between Muldrew, McDuffie and Bonds, the defense had not shown the gun to be relevant to the case, or to the defense.

Muldrew told the justices that Philip Heidt's uncle took the five guns from Robin Heidt Rast in May 2009 over concerns she might injure herself. They were taken to the sheriff's office and then turned over to Craig Bonnell, an attorney for both Craig Heidt and Robin Heidt Rast, Muldrew said.

"So to say counsel didn't know is disingenuous," Muldrew said.

Bonds said the prosecution's contention that the shotgun was discussed in open court is not true.

"There's nothing in the record to support it," Bonds said. "I don't want to call anyone a liar, but did they handle it in a nonchalant manner?"

Bonds said the shotgun was relevant.

"It was in the possession of Robin Heidt. She was a named suspect throughout."

Bonds noted Rast mistakenly thought she was the beneficiary of her husband's $3.5 million life insurance policy. Carey Heidt changed the beneficiary to his children shortly before his death.

Testimony at trial showed Rast was having an affair with her brother-in-law Craig Heidt.

Their affair caused problems in the family, leading Carey Heidt to spend the night at his parent's house the night he was killed.

Prosecutors have said the affair was a motive for the killings.

Justice Nahmias noted that the burden to determine if the gun would be favorable to the defendant was on the defense, not the prosecution.

"Do you have anything beyond that it's the same type of shotgun?" Nahmias asked.

Justice Nahmias questioned whether the meeting in open court to discuss the shotgun was on the record.

Muldrew said it was through the testimony of Sheriff McDuffie at the motion for a new trial hearing.

Bonds did not have time to finish his oral arguments, using up the 20 minutes allotted.

The filed appeal also cites error in Judge Peed's denial of a change of venue for the case and in seating jurors who said during jury selection they already had an opinion on the case.

Those jurors were questioned by Peed and "rehabilitated," Muldrew said. Muldrew also said that Bonds did not object at the time of jury selection to Peed's questions.

Muldrew told justices the evidence is this case, while both direct and circumstantial, was overwhelming.

"This was an execution," Muldrew said. "Not a robbery, the only item missing was the defendant's rifle."

Muldrew said the murders were also thoroughly investigated.

"They went down every rabbit hole," Muldrew said of investigators.

Heidt is being held in Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe.

Bonds said he'd visited Craig Heidt in prison last week and that Heidt was hopeful.

"He's in a rough place obviously. He's hoping and praying, as well as his family, that justice will be done at some point."

Muldrew said he believes the court will uphold Craig Heidt's conviction.

"I thought it went very well and was glad the court listened to the arguments of both sides," Muldrew said. "I have no doubt that they will do the right thing and affirm the conviction of Craig Heidt. The evidence clearly shows he did the crime he was charged with."

A decision by the justices could take several months.

THE CHARGES AND VERDICTS

Count 1 malice murder: Guilty

Count 2 malice murder: Guilty

Count 1 aggravated assault: Guilty

Count 2 aggravated assault: Guilty

Count 1 aggravated battery: Guilty

Count 1 burglary: Guilty

Count 2 burglary: Guilty

Count 1 criminal attempt to commit arson: Guilty

Count 1 possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime: Guilty

Count 2 possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime: Guilty

Count 3 possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime: Guilty

KEY PLAYERS

Philip Craig Heidt convicted of the murders, oldest brother of the Heidt family.

Carey Albert Heidt, youngest brother of the Heidt family, killed Aug. 25, 2008, while he was sleeping at his parent's home.

Philip Martin Heidt, patriarch of the Heidt family, killed Aug. 25, 2008, at his home while he was sleeping.

Linda Heidt, Heidt family matriarch, survived shooting at family home on Aug. 25, 2008.

Philip Craig Heidt arrested on May 22, 2009, in a road stop after he had taken Carey Heidt's children to school. He had moved into his brother's home about four months after the murders so he could be with Robin and her and Carey's children. Craig and Robin already had purchased engagement and wedding rings and planned to move to Charleston, S.C.

A jury of eight women and four men is seated Nov. 30, 2010.

Guilty verdicts on all 11 counts are returned on Dec. 9, 2010.

Craig Heidt is sentenced to two life terms, plus 85 years on Jan. 6, 2011.